The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-06
Ceremonies Attending the Dedication Of konu-
msnts to the PhiladelPhis Brigade.
General Owens Graceful Tribute to tho Bravery
Of the Pickett Veterans.
E3eautieuI Floral Cross Presented Mrs. Pick
EFT by the Pennsylvania TroOps-Other
incidents of the Day.
ON THE GETTYSBURG BATTLE FIELD.
COmmemoratiOn OF Memorable Day In
the Late War,

July 2, 1868. This morning dawned clear
and beautiful, perfect counterpart OF the
memorable day it commentaries. In
place OF cannon shots. however, the shrill
shrieks OF the locomotive broke the Sab
bath stiffness as excursion after excursion
reinforced the crowds already throng-
ing the streets. The brilliant uniforms,
the flashing arms and the mass of people
moving in all directions over the field
brings wildly to mind the scenes of the
great condict. The morning was spent in
sightseeing and going over the field. One
house on Baltimore street, in which rebel
shell is sticking, attracted more than usual
attention.
This afternoon as soon as dinner was
over the veterans collected at their re-
spective headquarters, and at 80 p. m.
the procession formed at the Eagle Hotel
and, led by Adiutant Whitcar and fol-
lowed by the band, took up its march
toward the place where, twenty-four years
before, the Philadelphia men had held
their position against the famous PlCkett'S
division of Longstreet's corps, Army of
Northern Virginia. The procession pro-
cteded out Baltimore street to the place
where the Emmittsburg road joins it, and
which was the outer post of the Union
sbarp-shOoters during the fight. Oat the
Emmittsburg road to Battlefield ave-
nue. the wearers of the blue badges and
white helmets proceeded Slowly they
make their way through the dust
which covers the roads. At length
they reach Bloody Angle" the
band strikes up Rally round the
flag. boys" and the old Philadelphia
brigade is once mora on the ground they
so nobly defended against such overwhelm-
ing odds. On they come past the mon
1ment of the Seventy first, past the monu-
ment OF the Sixty ninth. Back they go
past the monuments again. Then the Hi
hernia Rifles march past between and draw
up in front of the Sixty-ninth monument.
The scene is strikingly magnificent. Ten
miles away on the west are the heights of
the Blue Ridge folding around the town
like an mphitheater, and a soft breeze is
lszily moving the ripeniDg grain; one mile
away, and reaching from RouHd Top on the
south to the Harrisburg road on the north,
are the woods. all beautiful in their green
dress, from which Pickett's division, on the
eventful Sd of July, 1868 emerged and
started across the mile of almost level coun-
try which lies between their sheltering
gloom and Cemetery Ridge. The stone
fence is still standing behind which the
Philadelphia brigade made its heroic stand,
and the two monuments of the Sixty-ninth
and Seventy-frst are located within few
feet of ii.
A few minutes after o'clock the sixty
ninth marched to the stand erected for the
purpose, and there the assemblage was
called to order by Colonel O'Brien, who in
troduced Adjutant A. w. McDermott, who
read list of the killed and MORALLY
wounded of the Sixty-Dinth Regiment. He
then presented General Joshua 7. Owen,
who delivered the grafton.
During his speech the general said that
the commander of the Philadelphia bril-
gade, when he placed them at the stone wall
in such an advanced position, knew they
would stay there and hold that position
till death. He referred to the manner in
which they got the name of Paddy
Owens Regulars" and pointed out General
Brown as the man who 30 called them. He
said be hardly knew what to say to the
men who, twenty-four years ago to-day,
emerged from the woods 1 300 yards away
and made the terrible assault on the Union
line. LET them place their monument
where they wish, he continued" Armis-
tead End several others pierced our line and
here within few feet of this spot he fell
wounded unto death. The renowned
sphalsnKes of Alexander would not have
dared to make the charge Pickett made.''
In closing he called for three cheers for
Pickett's Division as proof of their friend
ship They were given with a will, as
were three cheers for General Ovens
Colonel Reilly then presented the monu-
ment to the care and keeping of the Battle
field Memorial Association l. was re-
ceived in their name by CoIoael j. b.
Batchelder
As soon as Colonel BatcheIder had fin
ished, Colonel Reilly arose, and in the
name of the Sixty-ninth Regiment pre-
seDted him with handsome gold watch
appropriately inscribed.
The Colonel was much surprised, aud in
q few words thanked the regiment for its
kind remembrance of him.
Before the ceremonies began Mrs Pick
EFT, escorted by General Burns, took her
seat on the platform, and the crowd at
once cheered her.
Now Adjutant- General McDermott STEP
ped forward and presented her with a
beautiful floral cross which had been given
the brigade by Mrs. Reed, of Philadelphia
which they now wished TO present to her.
She arose and merely bowed her thanks. ),
This finished the ceremonies of the Six
ty-ninth, and now the Seventy-first took
the platform, and Captain Stockton intro
duced General Burns. Tho succeeded Gen
eral Baker in command, as the orator.
TIE General spoke for some time, but
finally took out his paper and read. When
he finished General Badly Smith was pre-
sented, and spoke for only q few minutes
II fell upon General Wystar to.turn the
monument over to the Battle Field Me-
mortal Association, and he was so much
affected by the sight of the small number
OF the Drlgaoe remaining that IL took MIN
some moments 70 MISTER his feelings and
occasionally during his speech his voice
would choke, and he with difficulty con-
timed.
The monument was accepted in the
nanse OF the association by Colonel John
II. VaDderslice, of Philadelphia.
Colonel r. Penn Smith then, in a very
interesting speech, turned over to the Me-
mortal Association the tablet of Cushing's
battery, which was also received by
Colonel Vanderslice.
The crowd then moved near the famous
clump Of trees where the Cowan's battery
monument is erected. When all was
ready, Colonel Andrew Cowan introduced
Rev. James X. Dixson, who offered prayer.
mrB Pickett then assembled the platform,
and Colonel Cowan, rising, thanked her
for her presence, and also welcomed the
wife of the commander of the Philadelp
Brigade, whose husband twenty-four years
ago, then en- aid on Webb's staff, brought
him the order 70 place his guns where toe
monument now Is, and who he had not
seen again till last night.
He then presented Senator E. Payne as
the orator; who spoke for about twenty
minutes Then Commander Cowan trans
fsrred the monument to the Memorial As